Chapter 69: Worth Its Weight

Inside the Lady's small tower.

"You say True Person Zhang gave Zheng Fa an immortal-grade token?" the Lady asked the Seventh Young Master.

The Seventh Young Master saw the expressions of shock on both his sister's and his mother's faces.

"Yes, Zheng Fa told me... He also said he has no plans to marry right now."

The Seventh Young Master watched his mother cautiously, relaying Zheng Fa's words, somewhat afraid she would be angry at Zheng Fa's refusal.

To his surprise, the expression on his mother's face was not anger, but rather a trace of melancholy.

She fell silent for a long moment before speaking: "I originally thought we had time, but I didn't expect we were still too late."

Hearing this, the Seventh Young Master was even more confused: "What is too late?"

The Lady did not answer him; instead, she turned her gaze toward his sister.

The Seventh Young Master followed her gaze and saw the emotions on his sister's face were even more complex than his mother's.

Seeing both of them looking at her, the Eldest Young Lady reined in her complex feelings, thought for a moment, and said: "It must have been the day he went to Elder Sister Zhang's courtyard a couple of days ago."

The Lady nodded, the sighing tone in her voice still lingering: "Although I had already tried to overestimate Zheng Fa, I never expected True Person Zhang to value him so highly."

Having finished speaking, she suddenly rose and walked downstairs.

"Mother? Where are you going?"

the Seventh Young Master asked.

"I'm bored of staying here; I'm going out for a walk."

"... Mother, do you think I'm three years old?"

"You've grown up; it's harder to fool you now." The Lady's tone still held some emotion.

The Seventh Young Master pouted; this lie was far too perfunctory.

Ever since he could remember, his mother had lived in seclusion within the small tower.

Even when his sister returned, his mother only waited on the first floor and never stepped out of the small tower.

Now she suddenly wanted to leave this small tower?

"Are you going to find Zheng Fa?"

The Seventh Young Master thought for a moment; he had only mentioned Zheng Fa's matter when he arrived.

"Is that not allowed?"

"Why?"

The Lady looked back at him, her gaze surprised, as if she thought his question was foolish: "Even True Person Zhang gave him an immortal-grade token; shouldn't I go to offer my congratulations? After all, he grew up in our Zhao family; when he later goes to the Immortal Sect, he will count as a connection for our Zhao family. Can I, the head of the Zhao family, just sit and watch?"

The Seventh Young Master looked at his mother suspiciously, his heart full of disbelief.

It was indeed impressive that Zheng Fa received an immortal-grade token from Elder Sister Zhang.

But would his mother break her twenty-year rule of never leaving the house just for this matter?

"Mother... do you want to apologize to Zheng Fa?" He suddenly thought of something and spoke up.

The Lady's steps halted; disgust and embarrassment appeared on her face as she looked at him and said: "I always said you are clever at the wrong times."

"Mother, is it really necessary?"

"Mother is afraid; otherwise, once he gains power in the Immortal Sect, what if he comes to trouble me?" The Lady's expression seemed as if she was truly afraid.

"You know Zheng Fa is not that kind of person."

"Can you guarantee that? You believe him, but I do not believe him."

The Seventh Young Master grabbed the Lady's sleeve and stopped her: "Mother, those things you did were all for me; if an apology is needed, I should go!"

He knew too well how proud his mother was.

Ever since his father became addicted to wine and women and took many beauties, his mother had stayed in the small tower and never gone to the front courtyard.

Later, after giving birth to him and his sister and completing the task of continuing the Zhao family line, she would not even see his father's face.

She was so proud that she disdained to compete for favor; having done what she felt she ought to do, she only sought to keep her eyes closed to the matter.

"What fault do you have? A fool has a fool's fortune; the person you value has such talent; Mother is very happy." The Lady shook her head and said. Seeing he still would not let go, she simply adopted a fierce expression and said: "It was Mother who committed the wrong and offended someone; so what? Can't I admit my mistake?"

The Seventh Young Master said nothing, merely gripping his mother's sleeve tightly.

The Lady's tone softened slightly:

"If you go to apologize on my behalf, you will consume the bond between the two of you; the more talented he is, the more valuable that bond becomes; it is not worth it."

"If Mother goes, she will consume her own face; Mother's face is not worth much."

"Let go."

The Seventh Young Master did not loosen his grip.

Of course he knew his mother cared most about her face.

The Lady pulled the cuff of her sleeve from his hand; looking at the Seventh Young Master, she smiled lightly.

"Even if I care about my face, is my face worth more than that one immortal-grade item in True Person Zhang's hand?" Looking at her two children, she shook her head self-mockingly: "If my face were so valuable, my son would not have waited ten years for an immortal-grade item."

Watching her figure leave the small tower, the Seventh Young Master turned his head and looked at his sister.

"Sister, why didn't you stop her?" Even though his relationship with Zheng Fa was very good, the Seventh Young Master could not bear to see his mother lower herself so much.

"Do not stop her; you must remember this."

"Remember what?"

"What use is an immortal-grade item to Mother?"

The Seventh Young Master was stunned.

"So what if Elder Sister Zhang favors him? Can Zheng Fa make Mother become an immortal and an ancestor?"

"..."

"Even if she offended Zheng Fa, considering your face, could Zheng Fa kill her?"

"..."

"She went to apologize not because her face is worthless, but because compared to your future, her face is worthless. She does not want the things she has done to affect your relationship with Zheng Fa, even by the slightest possibility." The Young Lady looked at her younger brother: "When you go to the Immortal Sect, and you feel the sect is bitter, cultivation is exhausting, and the path ahead is hopeless, think of today."

The Seventh Young Master looked at his sister, suddenly realizing that after ten years in the Qingmu Sect, she had truly changed a lot.

Downstairs, Steward Wu watched the Lady walk out of the small building, his expression as if the sky had collapsed.

"Lady?"

His tone was as if he did not recognize the person before him.

"Do you know where Zheng Fa's courtyard is?"

"Zheng Fa's house?" Steward Wu pondered for a moment, then spoke: "I know."

"Lead the way."

"I will immediately order a sedan chair prepared."

"No need. Walk there, and first circle around the Zhao Manor."

"Ah?"

"Zheng Fa! Something terrible has happened!"

Outside the Zheng family's small courtyard, Gao Yuan's shout rang out.

"What is it?"

Seeing him speak so seriously, Zheng Fa also walked out of the courtyard gate and asked him.

"You don't know? Today, the Lady actually walked out of that small building of hers!"

"Just that?" Zheng Fa felt this person was making a mountain out of a molehill.

"You don't understand. The Lady hasn't come downstairs in twenty years... Think about it. If something truly major weren't happening, how would she come out?"

Zheng Fa listened and felt there seemed to be some logic to that.

"Then what happened?"

"How would I know that? Perhaps some great figure is coming to the Zhao Manor, or perhaps they are looking for trouble with my master's concubines." Gao Yuan pouted: "I just know that all the servants in the entire manor are working, terrified of being caught slacking by the Lady. My father is currently trembling with fear and even kicked me out, telling me to go to the Seventh Young Master's study to pretend to be busy."

"Then why did you come here?"

"The Seventh Young Master isn't in the courtyard." Gao Yuan explained: "But I saw the Lady on the road. She is truly young."

"Hmm..."

"We younger servants haven't seen her in all these years. When I saw her, I couldn't believe it. If you ask me, she looks like the Seventh Young Master's sister."

"Hmm..."

"I think the Lady isn't going to the Front Courtyard; she must be going to meet some great figure... Who do you think it is?" Gao Yuan speculated with a face full of gossip.

"Me."

"?"

"Yes, she is behind you."